Event CEN11LA386

Factual narrative

On June 13, 2011, at 1210 central daylight time, a Cessna model 172S airplane, N539ND, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The flight instructor and student were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local instructional flight originated from KGFK at 1110. The flight instructor reported that his student was practicing landings to runway 17R when the accident occurred. The student, who was obtaining instruction toward a flight instructor certificate, was flying from the right seat. The flight instructor reported that the airplane touched down right of the runway centerline and began to bounce as the student attempted to realign the airplane with the centerline. He stated that a wind gust was likely responsible for the initial bounce, but the airplane continued to bounce with an escalating intensity. He noted that on the third or fourth bounce he assumed control of the airplane in order to abort the landing. He reported that before he could establish a climb the airplane experienced an additional hard landing. He regained control and landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial buckling to the firewall. The nose landing gear was displaced 20-30 degrees forward. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 1153, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 160 degrees at 22 knots, gusting 27 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 2,300 feet above ground level (agl), broken ceilings 11,000 and 25,000 feet agl; temperature 21 degrees Celsius; dew point 14 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.87 inches of mercury. A peak wind velocity measuring 29 knots from 180 degrees was recorded at 1203. The flight instructor reported that his student was practicing landings, and the airplane touched down right of the runway centerline and began to bounce as the student attempted to realign with the centerline. The flight instructor indicated that a wind gust was likely responsible for the initial bounce, but the airplane continued to bounce with an escalating intensity. He noted that on the third or fourth bounce he assumed control of the airplane in order to abort the landing. He reported that before he could establish a climb the airplane experienced an additional hard landing. He regained control and landed the airplane without further incident. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C